covid-19 Frequently asked questions
keeping our team informed
Financial Impacts
Available Financial Support For Individuals Who Have Lost Their Job or Must Isolate
The federal government has introduced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and changes to the EI program to help protect your financial well-being during this unprecedented time. These include programs to support during layoffs due to work closures, unable to work due to self-isolation, and also being unable to work for precautionary reasons. You can find more details here.
Health and Safety
What Symptoms to Look For & What to do
The Public Health Agency of Canada lists the symptoms of COVID-19 as:
• Cough
• Fever
• Difficulty breathing
• Pneumonia in both lungs
They note that those who are infected with COVID-19 may have little or no symptoms and symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure. The symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to the flu and common cold.
If you aren’t well – even if it’s a small sniffle or cough – let your manager/supervisor know and simply stay home. Here are the Ottawa Public Health guidelines.
Best Practices for Staying Safe
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.
Physical distancing involves taking steps to limit the number of people you come into close contact with. This will help to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
As such, you should avoid direct contact with anyone that does not live in your household and limit the number of individuals in an enclosed space at all times.
If you have concerns about your work environment’s physical distancing logistics, you should bring these concerns up to your supervisor/manager as soon as possible.
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
You must also make a conscious effort to not touch your face.
If you have touched a contaminated surface, touching your face will facilitate contracting the disease. It is best to wash your hands, ensuring that they are disease-free.
In order to go to one of our facilities, sites, or locations you must comply with the following:
✔ Having received a negative test result for COVID-19 after having tested positive and completing the subsequent self-isolation period as required by Public Health.
✔ Having isolated for 14 days after any out-of-county travel.
✔ Having not had ANY cold-like symptoms in over 24 hours.
✔ Having not been in contact with someone having tested positive for COVID-19 or being suspected of having COVID-19.
✔ Not having been asked to isolate by any governing body, management, or authority.
Communications
To avoid propaganda and misleading information; Lar-Mex is following the regulations, guidelines, and restrictions set forth by The Public Health Agency of Canada, Public Health Ontario, and Ottawa Public Health regarding COVID-19.
At this time, Lar-Mex’s operations are still considered “essential” and we will continue to operate in all facilities and sites where we are permitted to so.
Working on a job site
Several of our clients have made the decision to shut down their sites. Workers from those sites have been temporarily laid-off and are eligible for Employment Insurance.
For other sites, work continues.
Those required to isolate for COVID-19-related reasons, the federal government is waiving the eligibility waiting period for benefits and our payroll practitioners are completing the required Records of Employment (ROE) as quickly as possible and following the guidelines of Service Canada in order for workers to receive their benefits.
While we understand that many tools are used by the entirety of the site team, please wipe down tools and continue to practice enhanced hygiene throughout your shift.
By washing your hands regularly and not touching your face, you can avoid transmitting bacteria and COVID-19.
Working as a service Tech
Your safety is of utmost importance. Please review your concerns with your supervisor and we will address the issue before you go into that environment.
At this time, please refrain from having clients or site representatives sign your work order.
Clients are being asked to confirm via email until further notice.
We understand that it’s difficult when clients have decided [or been required] to close, however, you will always be paid for the hours you’ve worked.
Working in the office
Lar-Mex continues to abide by the guidelines and restrictions set forth by governing bodies. At this time, the office will continue to be open during its regular hours.
We have reduced access and have limited foot-traffic. If someone needs to access the office for any reason, they should first contact their supervisor or the receptionist to ensure that we continue to have an acceptable number of people present.
Anyone who feels that they can complete their work from home should review their options with their supervisor. Adjustments may be required if certain tasks are not efficiently completed remotely. Please speak with your supervisor/manager to make the necessary arrangements.
i – DO NOT visit the office if you do not comply with the OK TO VISIT list.
ii – Sanitize when you arrive (either using the available hand sanitizer or washing your hands with soap and water in one of the washrooms)
iii – Check in at the reception upon your first visit, then check in with your supervisor every time you are in the facility.
iv – PARTICIPATE. We’re all in this together. Disinfectant spray and/or wipes have been made available throughout the facility in high-touch areas; please wipe down surfaces and sign-off to let your team-members know it’s been done.